Nostalgia Dragster Rebuild

[rayray086]

Here's something that you'll find interesting.. Rick Macdonald from California, who is the Nitro Cackle car "guru" is the guy who built the engine for the 'new' Barnstormer.

He helping us with this engine build. He has done the fuel system etc for us and has been a great help. We have pages and pages of emails from him with all his info and he has sourced parts for us and become quite a good friend. Really top bloke!

That's incredible mate. How'd you manage to get his contacts??? Must be providing some fantastic guidance for you guys

[Preen59]

That's incredible mate. How'd you manage to get his contacts??? Must be providing some fantastic guidance for you guys

To be honest, it was pure luck! When we were at the California Hot Rod Reunion last year (2007), we were walking around looking at the cars and we started talking to some guys there with cackle cars saying we were restoring one and needed some info on a cackle engine. They said "See that guy over there with the fire suit pants on and the mustache? That's Rick Macdonald, go and talk to him, tell him we sent you."

So we walked over, introduced ourselves and got talking. He gave us some info on the spot and some contact details. He's been helping us ever since!

Dad and mum went back for the CHRR this year in october again and dad spent about 2 full days out of the 3 they were there for it with him. Learned heaps.



This is Rick in both pics at the CHRR this year adjusting the barrel valve on the "Magicar" owned by Bill Pitts (another long distance friend we've made).





And here is is running at night. Those header flames are small compared to what it can produce with the right tune up on 100% Nitro. Our setup is going to be fairly similar.

[DubSteve]

Preeny man thats freakin awesome stuff man I'm loving this thread WOOT

[Retired]

I usually don't care for top fuel drag cars but jesus mate, this stuff makes me a little moist

[Treza360]

The wheels are pretty much finished off. There are a few deep scratches that i am going to have to take some coarse emery to and hook in on them. Luckily this is meant to look like a race car as it would have been run and not a show car, so they don't have to have all the small pits removed.

Bit confused by this? Is it going to be raced?
If it's not going to be raced and it's not a show car then what's it for?
Great build up by the way. Definitely something different from the norm on here and very interesting to boot.
Cheers,
Trent

[qsilverza]

just saying that it has been raced and so it doesn't have to look like a showcar as it will be raced

[Preen59]

Bit confused by this? Is it going to be raced?
If it's not going to be raced and it's not a show car then what's it for?
Great build up by the way. Definitely something different from the norm on here and very interesting to boot.
Cheers,
Trent

just saying that it has been raced and so it doesn't have to look like a showcar as it will be raced

Sorry, to clear things up...

It's a restoration, not a recreation. So we are restoring the car back to the way it was with the trends and styles of that era.

The car will not be raced because of a few reasons..

1. We can't afford to run a nitro car for full passes!
2. The chassis is the original and not up to current spec for safety.
3. We never wanted to race it.

This is more of a display type thing. It's a "Cackle Car". It will be as close to identical to original as possible. The engine has been built a little differently to run for a longer period of time. The idea is that you can display it and start it for people at drag meetings and car shows etc, allowing them to see what it "Used to be like".

Cackle Fest is massive in the states. Google it.

Edit: By the way, don't worry, this car will be by no means soft.. It will still have ~2500 to 3000 horsepower.

[Valver.]

Gee, those rods look pretty weak

[Preen59]

Gee, those rods look pretty weak

Yeah but they were the only ones we could get. We wanted to use CA18DET rods but they aren't quite long enough...

[Mischa]

Yeah but they were the only ones we could get. We wanted to use CA18DET rods but they aren't quite long enough...

shoulda gotten the rods out of a polo gti